Water heater or boiler



March 5, 1935. M. 1. LARSEN 1,993,674

WATER HEATER 0R BOILER Filed April 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 5, 1935. LARSEN I 1,993,674

WATER HEATER OR BOILER Filed April 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,993,674 I WATER HEATER R BOILER.

Martin I. Larsen, Chicago, Ill. Application April 26, 1934, Serial No. 722,599

4 Claims. (Cl. 122-159) This invention relates to water heaters or steam cut away as at 13 or otherwise formed to permit generators and particularly to a certain construcair to pass into the base. tion constituting an improvement over my prior Disposed within the base is a lining 14 of re- Patent 1,900,451 granted March 7, 1933. fractory material which may have any desired One of the objects of the present invention is shape depending entirely upon the burner that is 5 to secure a better circulation of the water than used therewith. This lining is shown as being was secured in my prior construction and secure formed in two sections, an upper section and a a better heating of the water. lower section and the lining also may be split A further object is to provide a construction longitudinally on t a lines as t p t i th of this character in which the base, which supcasing 10. 10 ports the burner, may be readily taken apart to Bolted, riveted or otherwise attached to the permit the replacement of a damaged burner with we end f the ba 10 is a i w d y nda new one or to permit the placement within this ins annular f ang 5 wh ay be also split base of a burner of a different character. a n t i of t sp it tw h tw s 15 A further object is to provide a construction of tiOns of the base 10 and which supp the lining 15 this character which by slight modification may of refractory i l 4- Thi l in is formed be used either for the purpose of generating steam to p ovid a urn containing spa 16 sh wn as or for the purpose of heating water. pw d y and inwardly contracted and sup Another object is to provide better means for me the b rner 1' whi h i h wn s a rin burner carrying off the products of combustion and sefor 885 having the n t pipe 18. I do not wish 20 curing a. draft through the burner. to be limited, however, to the use of a gas burner Still another object is to so construct the casing as an oil burner or other heating el might of the heater that water may be readily heated be used.

for household uses, The lining 14 is formed with a central cham- Another object is t provide m s hi h, 11' her 19 below the burner and with a central open- 25 the heater is used on railroad trains, will tend to 20 by which air is pp d from e th prevent the water within the heater from l h the base to the burner. Above the contracted ing about within the water space of the heater p ion 16, the refractory lining is p y and under the jars and jolts of the train. outwardly flared as at 1- Still another object is to provide a water heater The inner shell 22 0f the heater y be formed 0 which is very simple in its construction, which in s t s, t u h it is sh wn as f rm d in one has been found extremely effective in actual prac- P e and i5 S p p p the ba tice and which is very compact. Screwed upon, welded or otherwise attached to My invention is illustrated in the accompanythe shell 22 is the interiorlythreaded flange 23 ing drawings, wherein:- having adjacent its outside margin the upwardly 35 Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section tend g b 4. e pp e d o t bas through a water heater of the character stated; 10 carries an inwardly projecting flange An Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1; asbestos Packing 26 is p ed between t e Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; flanges 23 and the flange the rib 24 center- Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation partly broken mg the shell in placeaway of the conical heat collector or hood which Disposed, within the central opening of the flange 23, is an upwardly conical, heat-collectis disposed just above the burner; t

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail of the outer igg g g i i gg gg gg fi g ggfi g z Wan e showing that the base is made in this flange 28 extending beneath the inner mar 45 sectmns; gin of the flange 23 and being held thereto by Flgure 6 15 an enlarged fragmentary Section screws or bolts 29. Extending through the apex showing the connection between the base and the of the conical head 27 is a flue 30 which extends Shell up to any desired height and is adapted to carry Referring to these drawings, 10 designates the 11 t products of combustion 50 base upon whi h h heater proper rests- This Dis osed within the heat collector 2'? are the base is preferably formed in two sections as shown inverted frustrum heat-deflectors 31 d 32 in Figure 5, these sections being flanged at 11 and held together by a bolt 33, the deflector 31 restthe flanges being held together by bolts 12 in the ing upon the upper portions of a series of curved W usual manner. The lower edges of this base are water tubes 34. Each of these water tubes 34 5 extends spirally from the lower portion of the conical head or collector 2'7 upward and laterally. The ends of these water tubes open upon the exterior face of the head or collector 27 and the upper deflector 31 rests upon the upper portion of these tubes and thus supports both of these heat deflectors in a position immediately above the central portion of the burner 17 so as to cause the heat from this burner to be deflected outward against the wall of the head 27 and against the tubes 34.

Supported upon the flue 30 by means of the straps 35 is an elongated circulation pipe or chamber 36. The upper end of this is outwardly and upwardly deflected as at 37. This tube or chamber extends downward in concentric relation to the flue 30 and at its lower end is deflected outward and downward in concentric relation to the conical head 2'7. This tube or chamber 36 is to be spaced uniformly at all points from the flue 30 and from the heat collecting head 27. This chamber or tube 36 is open at its upper and lower ends.

Disposed concentrically to the element 36 is a cylindrical tubular element 38 which at its upper end joins the wall 37 and is supported by the straps 35. This element 38 extends downward in concentric relation to the element 36 and in concentric relation to the flue 30 and the head 27 and at its lower portion is downwardly and outwardly flared in concentric relation to the downwardly and outwardly flared portion of the element 36. The lower end 01. this element 38 is held in proper spaced-relation to the lower end of the element 36 by turning the lugs 39 inward from this wall 38 as shown in Figure 1 and in more detail in Figure 4. The space between the elements 38 and 36 is closed at the upper end except for a small vent hole 40 and constitutes a dead water space which prevents the water rising upward in the circulating chamber 36 from being chilled by immediate contact with the water contained within the shell 22. Under cer--" tain circumstances, as for instance, where this water heater or steam generator is used on railroad trains or the like, it is necessary to prevent the water within the shell of the heater from sloshing about under the jars and jolts of the train. To this end, I provide a plurality of concentric members 41, the innermost member being supported on the straps 45 by the angle irons or straps 42, the outer members being supported from the inner member and spaced therefrom by the vertical channel irons 43 as shown in Figure 2. These concentric members 41 act to stabilize the water within the heater and tend to prevent undue agitation of this water. It is to be understood that this water stabilizer formed of concentric elements 41 is only used under the circumstances stated.

The top of the shell 22 is closed except for a central opening through which the flue 30 passes. This central opening is defined by an upstanding flange 44, screw-threaded for the reception of a gland 45, packing being disposed within the flange 44 and compressed by the gland 45. Disposed exteriorly to the shell 22 is an outer shell 46 of thin metal which is merely intended for the purpose of retaining upon the shell 22 a mass of asbestos or other non-conductive heat-resistive material designated 46. This extends down entirely around the shell 22 and completely insulates this shell.

I have shown this heater as being used for the purpose of generating steam and I have 111115-' trated therefor a pressure gage 47 of ordinary construction attached to the shell of the heater and I have also illustrated a safety valve 48. Neither of these devices will be used if the heater is simply used for heating water for use in a hot water heating system instead of a steam heating system but in place of the gage 47 a water altitude gage will be used. I have illustrated the shell 22 as being provided with a steam pipe 49 whereby steam can be taken from the upper portion of the heater.

It will be understood that where this heater is used for heating water and not for generating steam, the heater and, of course, the hot water system, will be entirely filled with water.

For the purpose of heating water for household purposes, I form the shell with an offset portion 50 and disposed within this offset portion, the longitudinally extending pipe 51 which is connected at one end with the inlet pipe 52 and at its other end with an outlet pipe 53. This constitutes, in a sense, a water back. Any number of these pipes 51 might be connected to the inlet and outlet pipes 52 and 53 depending upon the amount of hot water that is needed.

For the purpose of returning water to the interior of the shell 22, I provide the pipe 55 which opens into the interior of the shell 22 at the lower end thereof and provide a valved water inlet pipe 56 so that water may from time to time be let into the heater in order to supply deficiencies. A drain valve 57 is also shown connected to the lower end of the water space.

For the purpose of securing at all times a good draft past the burner 17 and up through the flue 30, I preferably carry the upper end of this flue upward through the upper end of the chimney A and rotatably mount upon the upper end of the flue above the chimney and above the chimney cap 58 the elbow 59 which carries the small nozzle 60 projecting from this elbow at its upper end and parallel to but in an-opposite direction from the angular portion of the elbow. In order to rotate this cowl, as it may be called, I mount upon the elbow 59 or cowl, the vane 61. This will cause the elbow or cowl to rotate with changes in direction of the wind so as to always present the nozzle 60 toward the wind. The wind blowing through the nozzle 60 and into the elbow 59 will cause a draft up the flue 30. This, of course, will cause air to be drawn into the lower end of the burner and thus secure perfect combustion at all times. The flue 30 between the heater and the cowl might be of relatively flexible pipe.

It will be seen that the heat rising from the burner is collected within the hood or head 27, that the wall of this head 27 becomes very highly heated, thus transmitting its heat to the column of water surrounding the head 2'? and the flue 30, that this heat is directed outward by the deflecting baflles 31 and 32 and brought into intimate contact with water tubes 34 and that this heat, as it is carried upward through the flue 30, also tends to heat the entire column of water immediately surrounding the flue. The water, therefore, moves upward within this water column defined by the flue 30 and the tubular element 36 and is discharged into the upper portion of the water within the shell 22, that this water then descends and again moves upward through the water heating space so that a constant circulation of water is secured. As before remarked, the dead waterspace between the elements 38 and 36 prevents this uprising column of heated water from being chilled by the less heated water in the upper portion of the shell and forms in a sense an insulator between this uprising column of water and the body of water in the shell. The body of heated water in the shell heats the water in the water heating pipes 51 and thus can supply hot water for household purposes.

Whenever the lining 14 needs repair or the burner needs repair, it is a relatively easy matter to support the shell, remove the screws or bolts holding the shell to the flange 23, remove the sections of the base 10 and then replace the sections of refractory material 14 with other sections or to replace the burner with another burner.

It will be obvious that by disconnecting the pipes 49 and 55, the shell may be bodily moved upward, thus disclosing the parts 38 and the water stabilizers 42 so as to repair these parts. The structure is thus readily assembled or disassembled.

The structure is very compact and has been found thoroughly'efiective. Preferably, though not necessarily, the flue 30 will be protected through a part or through its entire extent with an asbestos or other non-conductive covering as indicated in Figure 1.

It will be seen from Figure 1 that the refractory lining 14, which is preferably made in two sections corresponding to the two sections of the shell 10, has a central chamber for the accommodation of the burner 17, this chamber extending upward and inward immediately above the burner and then upward and outward to the wall of the shell 10. It will be also noted that the most contracted portion of the lining just below the portion 21 is smaller in diameter than the diameter of the ring burner 1'7. The purpose of this is to protect the burner from drip caused by the sweating of the bottom of shell 22 and the inwardly extending flange 25 when heat is first turned on. Any drip will either be discharged in drops inward of the burner or will trickle down exteriorly of the burner 17.

I have found in practice that the heating surface in my heater is relatively large and that my mode of deflecting and circulating the heat and the method of circulating the water secures a relatively quick circulation with less fuel consumption than in any other heater or boiler known to me.

While this heater is capable of heating homes and railway coaches in the usual way, this unit can also be made in smaller sizes for smaller installations. A small unit could be attached to or connected with a single radiator to heat a room or this heater might be used in connection with a radiator in one of the new style railway cars where a blower forces cool air through a refrigerating coil in the summer or through a steam radiator in winter. The same principle might be used in hot water or coffee urns. The interiorly contracted conical collector 2'? permits me to use a relatively small burner with success.

I claim:

1. In a heater of the character described, a shell, means for heating the water within the shell, a flue extending upward through the shell, and a plurality of annular vertically disposed water stabilizers disposed concentric to the flue and to each other and in spaced relation to the flue and to each other and supported within the upper portion of the shell, the stabilizers all terminating below the top and above the bottom of the shell and the spaces between the stabilizers being entirely open throughout the entire length of the stabilizers.

2. A water heater of the character described, comprising a base-having a refractory lining, a burner disposed within the base, the upper portion of the base having an inwardly extending annular flange, an upwardly extending conical head constituting a heat collector having its lower margin attached to said flange, a shell resting upon the base and closed at its upper end and defining a water space, a flue extending upward from the upper end to the head and through the upper end of the shell, a chamber disposed concentric to the head and to the flue and open at its upper and lower ends, and constituting a water circulation chamber, a tubular member surrounding said chamber closed at its upper end but open at its lower end and held in concentric spaced relation to said chamber and defining with the wall of the chamber a dead water space, means on the flue for supporting the circulation chamber and the tubular member, and a plurality of water stabilizers disposed in concentric relation to each other and to the flue and disposed in the upper portion of the shell and operatively supported by the flue.

3. A heater of the character described, comprising a base and shell, the shell resting upon the base, the base being formed adjacent its lower end with an annular inwardly extending flange and at its upper end with an annular inwardly extending flange, the base being formed .in two vertical sections detachably engaged with each other, a refractory lining formed in sections and disposed within the base and resting upon the lower flange, a burner disposed within the base and within the refractory lining, a flue extending vertically downward and centrally through the upper end of the shell, a downwardly opening conical heat-collecting head attached at its upper end to the flue and opening thereinto, the lower end of the head being open and detachably engaged with the upper flange of the base, inwardly extending water tubes opening through the head and carried thereby, heat deflectors mounted within the collecting head and deflecting the heat rising from said burner. toward the wall of the head, a tubular member extending downward around the flue and at its lower end being downwardly and upwardly deflected and constituting a water circulating chamber surrounding the flue and head and in spaced relation thereto and open at its upper and lower ends, a second tubular member surrounding the first named tubular member and closed at its upper end but open at its lowerend and defining .a dead water space, the shell having water inlet and outlet connections.

4. A heater of the character described, comprising a base and an outer shell, the outer shell being detachably supported upon the base, the

base being formed adjacent its lower end with I an annular inwardly extending flange, a body of refractory material disposed in said base below the flange, and formed to provide a burner containing chamber having an upwardly and centrally extending wall above the burner, the wall then extending outward and upward to a point beneath the flange, the lining at its lower end having an air inlet opening, a burner disposed within said refractory lining, and a heat collector extending upward through said shell immediately above the flange and having a central flue extending outward through said shell.

MARTIN I. LARSEN. 

